phonics books then what?

[Tgger]

DS (in reception) is reading the easy phonics books really well. What does anyone recommend after them? We have been doing the Songbirds and also the RWI ones that seem to go up to level 4-Dragon Bay etc. He finds those pretty straightforward. I am looking for books that have good stories that will grab his imagination. There are some sounds he hasn't covered yet in class but he is really enjoying his new found reading skills, including coming across new and challenging words (just not too many at once) and I want to encourage him!

Ladybird Keywords Series.
My DSs are enjoying them -- not so much good stories, just a confidence in sight words and learning to read alone. HTH.

Hi Tgger, thought I'd reply on here.

Unfortunately I got a lot of the reading books we use, via ebay, from a lady who was a retiring tutor and they are probably out of print.

With ds1 we went up to songbirds level 6. We also read the "red nose readers" series, red/yellow/blue levels for increasing difficulty (written by Allan Ahlberg) so very silly and great fun for kids. I also used a set of 12 Usborne phonics readers "Mouse moves House, Hens Pens, etc (The Book People again) and the Apple Tree Farm series of 20 books. (The Book People again)

We read a Thomas the Tank Engine series which said it was for ages 3-5 but I'd put it at age 5-6. Each book got progressively harder and it told you in the back of each book which one to progress to next.

We also read some Collins books, in particular I think "skyways" with a series about a boy in medieval times wanting to train as a knight.

Don't overlook good old Dr Seuss and cat in the hat type readers (graded by colour on the back cover) there are so many different ones of these and you can get quite a lot for your money on ebay.

Peter & Jane from the 60's and 70's, these are look and say but by the time your child has mastered songbirds level 6 they'll probably use phonics wherever they can and work out the rest with assistance.

Thanks whoknowsme, that's really helpful.

I've come across a few of those you mention when browsing and will probably buy some now (don't mind buying books but prefer a recommendation as don't like wasting money!!). Hadn't realised Songbirds goes up to level 6- kind of got to level 3 and thought, oh these are much too easy now- probably worth carrying on with those.

The red nose readers sound fun and think DS will like so will look into those. Am trying a few things from the library to see what takes- hopefully we will find something engaging at the right level. I got a few more phonics from amazon and they arrived today. DS whizzed through 4 of them in about 5/10 minutes after tea.

The Book People are currently selling a set of 36 songbirds that goes up to level 6 for £15 (so you'd get the extra 18 books of levels 4, 5 and 6 for the £15 but have duplicates of levels 1-3, could flog these on ebay maybe or other parenting outlet/school notice board).

They've also got 16 Red Nose Readers books for £8.99 red/yellow/blue combined set. Both my dc love the silliness of these books, they are not really stories as such.

Come on "The Book People", put me on commission, I'm your best saleswoman, mind you I spend plenty with them myself anyway.

Thanks!!! And yes, think you should get some commission ;-)).

I got the Walker Stories set from the Book People. Very real life stories, and proper "chapter" books - so my DD is very pleased with herself for having read them on her own - and checking (I'm not a trusting mother!), she was reading them fairly easily. For girls, Puddle the naughtiest puppy series has also turned out to be a good confidence builder. I love Book People too, and tend to give alot of their sets a go.

If you mean Read Write Inc, they go up to level 7, but DD has ditched them after level 5 to go onto chapter books. I like RWI as it makes life very easy as a parent. Also a vote here for Dr Seuss which she got into reading at about level 2/3 of RWI.

Thanks! A bit tricky to know where to pitch it with him. Oh, didn't know they go up to level 7- wonder if the phonics ones stop at level 4? Will investigate! Thanks again.

I'm overseas so have taught DD (5) to read myself. I have a shelf with them on, and we have been known to flit between literacy sets. I figure as long as she is keen to read, and I follow the five fingers rule (shouldn't be making more than five mistakes / stumbles per page if its pitched at the right level) then she can go for it. I also got her new picture books for her to read to me herself which went down well. But my DD loves pictures . Check on Amazon - that's where I got our sets of Read Write from.

Don't forget to check out your local library too Tgger. Ours has a few shelves jammed with different reading schemes.

M & S have fairy tales with the full story on the left hand side of the page for the adult to read, with a sentence or 2 on the right hand side in a larger font for the child to read. It is lovely sharing the reading, especially at bedtime.

Don't discount books you already have but perhaps have stopped reading because they are too simple... especially if you have younger children too. I love the look of pride on dd1's face when she reads her sister a story!